In a rare and urgently needed move, the Ministry of Education and Sports has issued what I believe to be one of the most significant and commendable guidelines in recent Ugandan education history.
Circular No. 7/2025, titled “Guidelines for Safe Conduct of Entertainment and Co-Curricular Activities and Election of Student Leaders,” is far more than a policy document it represents a decisive and powerful national reset on values, safety, and discipline within our schools.
For too long, Uganda’s educational institutions meant to nurture both minds and character have become breeding grounds for unchecked extravagance, moral decline, and emotional distress among learners.
We have witnessed school events transform into lavish affairs rivaling weddings, trips with ballooning budgets, and entertainment programs resembling adult nightclubs rather than youthful school functions. Even more troubling, educators, parents, and society at large stood by in silent complicity.
The Ministry has finally drawn a clear line in the sand. It has said, “Enough.” And rightly so.
As a parent preparing to transition my child from Primary Seven to secondary school, I have spent sleepless nights worrying about where I can safely entrust them academically, morally, and emotionally. These new guidelines offer real hope.
Gone are the days when students felt entitled to extravagant “Candidate Day Outs” or costly “Success Parties,’’ events that placed heavy financial burdens on parents and, in some heartbreaking cases, contributed to depression and even suicide when expectations were unmet. Instead, the guidelines demand that all activities be purposeful, educational, and closely supervised.
Make no mistake: this is not about banning fun; it is about protecting the very soul of education.
Why did we ever allow entertainers to convince us that vulgarity and near-nudity were necessary to captivate young audiences? In applauding such performances, we did not just degrade our children we degraded our nation.
The new guidelines require thorough vetting of all entertainers, supervision of content, and an outright ban on indecent dressing and lewd acts. At last, the line between creative expression and cultural erosion has been firmly and unapologetically redrawn.
The document goes even further, dismantling the commercialization of student life. No more forced trips, expensive campaign attire, or ‘VIP tents’ for student leaders. In an era of growing economic inequality, this is a profoundly equalizing measure.
To schools that turned visitation days into extravagant parties: these guidelines restore the true purpose of such occasions’ genuine parental engagement, not greedy materialistic celebrations. It is time to bring dignity and modesty back to our school environments.
Perhaps the most transformative aspect is the new merit-based election process for student leaders. No money, no tricks, just integrity, vision, and proven commitment. This shift nurtures not only prefects but also the democratic leaders of tomorrow, emphasizing character, emotional intelligence, and academic balance.
Uganda has never lacked policies or guidelines. The real challenge has always been enforcement. What sets this circular apart is its unapologetic tone of accountability. School heads will be held responsible. Teachers, students, drivers, and entertainers who violate the rules will face real consequences. This is not a suggestion it is an order.
To parents weary of peer pressure and costly trends, this is your moment to stand firm. To teachers and administrators, this is a call to rediscover the moral purpose of your profession. To society at large, it’s time to stop normalizing nonsense.
We have a historic opportunity to reclaim our schools and rebuild the values that once defined them.
The Ministry has set the standard. Now, the responsibility falls on all of us to uphold it.
